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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. H. GALLAGER. GAB. GOUPLING Patented Nov. 9., 1897.

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H. GALLAGER.

l GAR GOUPLING. No. 593,464. Patented Novl 9,1897.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY GALLAGER, OF SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR OF THREE-FOURTHS TO JOHN .I. MCDONOUGH AND M. A. OBYRNE, OF SAME PLACE.

i cAR-CoUPLINe.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 598,464, dated November 9, 1897. Application iiled August 25, 1897. Serial No. 649,523. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, HENRY GALLAGEE, of Savannah, in the county of Chatham and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the numerals of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to that class of carcouplings known as twin-jaw,7 verticalplane, or Janney car-couplings, the object being to produce an improved car-coupling of this class which shall be cheap, simple in construction, positive in action, and free from the liability of uncoupling while in use.

In general terms my invention embraces the ordinary form of draw-head and swinging knuckle, the latter having the usual tailpiece to engage the locking mechanism, which in this instance consists of a block having an arm by which it is operated to unlock the knuckle. A curved lever having a vertical movement and also a swinging movement on suitable pivots is placed behind the lockingblock, which in the act of uncoupling swings under the elevated locking-block and retains it in its elevated position ready for action.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through my improved carcoupling, showing the parts in position when the knuckle is closed. Fig. 2 is a similar view with thei knuckle open. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 3. Figs. 4 to 6 are detail views.

Similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the respective figures.

The draw-head 1 and the knuckle 2 are similar in general outline to such as are at present in use, except as hereinafter pointed out. Within the draw-head 1 is a curved lever 3, from the sides of which project pivots 4,which support the lever in vertical slots 5, formed in the side walls of the draw-head. The curved lever 3 is adapted to rock on its pivots and to be raised vertically, the pivots 4 moving in the slots 5. The curved lever 3 is of the form shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the upper portion being bifurcated. From the outer side of each bifurcation 6 extends one of the pivots 4, each pivotbeing a short distance below the upper From the pivots the end of its bifurcation.

lever 4 curves downward and forward in a sharp turn, the lower portion being substantially horizontal. Shoulders 7'V extend laterally from-the lower portion of the curved lever 3, from which also projects in a downward direction a foot-piece S, which is adapted to passA into an opening 9, formed through the bottom of the draw-head. 10 is the locking-block, from which an arm 11 projects upward through an opening 12 in the top of the draw-head. By means of the said arm the locking-block is operated. A lip 13 extends vforward from the top of the block, while on the rear thereof is a stud 14. When in an uncoupled position, the lockingblock l0 rests on the horizontal portion of the curved lever 3, as represented in Fig. 2;

The knuckle 2 has a tailpiece 15, curved horizontally, as shown,'the upper surface of which is beveled on its convex side, as indicated at 16. A projection 17 is formed on the end of the tailpiece, the use of which is hereinafter described. Before coupling the knuckle is turned outwardly, which brings the tailpiece out of the draw-head, as will be seen by reference to Figs. 2 and 3. The curved lever is swung forward, so that its lower part is in a horizontal position, with the foot-piece 8 raised out of the opening 9 and resting on the bottom of the draw-head. The locking-block rests on the horizontal part of the-lever, while its arm passes between the bifurcations 6 and through the opening 12 in the draw-head. As the knuckle swings around in the act of coupling, the tailpiece first engages the footpiece 8 and moves the curved lever 3 backward until the foot-piece reaches the opening 9, at which time the curved lever drops bodily, the pivots 4 sliding in the .slots 5. The horizontal portion of the curved lever will then be in an inclined position, as in Fig. 1, causing the locking-block to slide forward until it strikes the tailpiece, its lip 13 overlapping the bevel 16 thereon, which raises the lockingblock and holds it up until the end of the tailpiece has 'passed it. The locking-block then drops down between the tailpiece and the side of the draw-head, locking the knuckle closed and forming a strong abutment for the tailpiece. The projection 17 on the tailpiece prevents the locking-block from moving forward out of the draw-head, while its backward IOO movement is prevented by the stud 14 striking the lower end of the curved lever 3. To uncouple the parts, the locking-block is raised usually by means of a chain attached to rockarm (not shown) and to the arm 11 of the locking-block l0, which latter engages the bifurcations 6 and raises the curved lever until its foot-piece is disengaged from the opening 9, when it will swing forward partly by gravity and partly by the lifting force. ward movement causes the curved lever to strike the tailpiece and throw open the knucl kle and assume the position shown in Fig. 2 to form a support for the locking-block.

The curvature given to the bifurcated leverl 3 is important from the fact that when in an uncoupled position its lower part forms a sup# port for the locking-block and when in a coupled position the same part assumes an inclined position of such pitch as will cause the locking-block to slide into its proper position for coupling. Should the curved lever from any cause Whatever be retained in its coupled posi-tion while the knuckle is in its open position, the locking-block would rest on the floor of the draw-head, as indicated in Fig. 6. In this position as the knuckle is in the act of coupling the bevel 1G of the tailpieceengages the lip 13 of the locking-block and raises it, being assisted by the lower portion of the curved lever 3, which at this time is in an inclined position, thus permitting the stud 14 on the locking-block to ride thereon.

The outward movement of the knuckle being limited, the stud 14 on the locking-blockfprevents the saidblock from falling out of the draw-head behind the tailpiece when the,

coupling is open.

I claim as my inventionrangement being such, that when the parts are locked, the locking -block will be prevented froln moving forward by the projection on the tailpiece, and from moving backward by the stud abutting against the lower edge of the curved lever, substantially as set forth.

2. In a car-coupling, in combination with a draw-head a knuckle pivoted thereto, a locking-block, and a lever pivoted in slots in the sides of the draw-head, the vsaid lever, which has a foot-piece on its lower end being so curved that when swung forward and supported bythe foot-piece, the said lower end will be substantially horizontal and support the locking-block, and when swung back, it will assume an inclined position and direct the locking-block forward into engagement with the knuckle, substantially as set forth.`

3. In a car-coupling, in combination with a draw-head, a pivoted knuckle provided with a curved tailpiece, the latter having a beveled surface and a projection on its end, a lockingblock having a lip on its front side and a stud on its rear side, and a curved lever pivoted in slots in the draw-head to allow of a verti- 1 cal movement, and adapted to swing under the locking-block when the latter is raised, and to be pushed back bythe tailpiece i-n the act of coupling, to permit the locking-block to fall between the end of the said tailpiece and the draw-head, whereby the knuckle may be locked in its closed positiomand the lock- 

